Dropping mechanism for corn-planters.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A [for/2 eg.

No. 886,253. PATENTED APR. 28, 1908.

T. C. ROSELAND.

DROPPING -MEGHANISM FOR CORN PLANTERS.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 12.1907.

VUNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

TOBIAS O. ROSELAND, OF GILMAN, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK R. ENSMINGER, OF GILMAN, IOWA.

DROPPING MECHANISM FOR CORN-PLANTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led July 12, 1907.

T 0 all wzom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ToBIAs O. RosELAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gilman, in the county of Marshall and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dropping Mechanisms for Corn-Planters, -of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dropping mechanisms for corn planters.

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide a `mechanism which will insure greater accuracy in the matter of counting out the number of grains to be dropped in each hill; to provide a mechanism of such construction that the accuracy of count is not affected by any ordinary variations in size or shape of kernels 5 to provide a mechanism which is extremely simple in construction and positive in action; to provide a mechanism which may be readily applied to most of the standard planters in common use without expensive or complicated reconstruction; to provide a mechanism which enables the number of kernels for each hill to be varied readily g to provide a mechanism which is equally suitable for drill dropping; and in general to provide an improved construction of the character referred to.

To the above ends the invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawingshFigure 1 is a view partly l I dropper mechanism and connected gear; the

upper part of the hopper being broken away; Fig. 3 is an axial sectional view of one of the dropper plungers Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the rotary carrier and the cam-hub around which the carrier rotates; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the cylindric cam surface developed into a flat surface and dropper plungers in various positions which they assume relatively to said cam 3 Fig. 7 is a plan view of that portion of the planter frame upon which one of the dropping mechanismsis mounted, the outer end of this frame carrying the mechanism which cooperates with the check row wire Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8`8 of Fig. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 9 is a detail showing a pair of change-speed gears which may be substituted for those shown in Fig. 2 to change the number of kernels dropped upon each dropping movement imparted to the mechanism by the check row wire.

In most of the corn planters now in common use, a dropper mechanism is mounted directly above or approximately above each blade or shoe which forms the furrow into which the seed is dropped, and this is true of the mechanism herein described.

Referring to Fig. l, l, l, designate a pair of transverse frame bars, upon which is mounted a suitable frame or casting 2 carrying the dropper mechanism designated as a. whole 3. With the front bar l is connected the runner-blade or furrow openers 4 by means of a link or brace 5, and a chute 6 leads from the lower side of the dropper mechanism chamber 7 to, and is connected with, the rear end of the runner. Suitable valve mechanism will be arranged within this chute 6 to control the passage of the kernels therethrough in a usual and well understood manner g this valve mechanism forming no part of the present invention and being therefore omitted.

On the frame member 2 is mounted a suitable box or housing 8 which as to its main portion is desirably interiorly cylindric, and at its upper side communicateswith a feed hopper 9, which may be made integral therewith or not as desired. One side of the box S is provided interiorly with an approximately cylindric hub l0, the exterior cylindric surface of which constitutes a cam, and

which will therefore be hereinafter termed d the cam-hub. Through the upper side of this cam-hub is formed a feed passage 11 which delivers into a hollow conical-shaped chamber formed within the hub; said passage extending upwardly through the wall of the box and communicating with the bottom of the hopper, as indicated at 18.

14 designates a shaft journaled to extend axially through the cam-hub, the ends of this shaft being journaled in the respective sides of the box 8 and one end thereof extending outside of the box ,to receive a gear l5 removably s lined thereon, as indicated at 16. Upon t e shaft 14 Within the box 8 is keyed of the plunger.

an agitator member 17 which takes the form of a disk provided with a peripheral thickened portion 18 which telescopes over and quite closely fits upon the cam-hub and is internally provided with an annular groove or channel 19 in open communication with the chamber 12 of the cam-hub. Conveniently the peripheral member 1,8 is formed as a separate part, which is secured to the disk proper, as shown clearly in detail Fig. 5. The member 18 is provided with a circumferential series of studs or cylindric projections 20 having their axes severally arranged parallel with the axis of rotation of the agitator, t'. e. parallel with the shaft 14. Except for the unnecessary weight of the device, the member 18 might be of the full thickness of the length of these projections 20 so far as operation is concerned. The studs 2O are severally bored axially, as indicated at 21, to receive dropper plungers 22; the studs being located in register with the channel or groove 19 and the plunger bores extended through said channel and through the opposed portions of the disk 17 so that the plungers may extend entirely through the device, as seen clearly in Fig. 2. Each plunger is provided near one end and at itsradially inner side with a recess 23, and the plunger receives a bodily endwise movement, which at the inner limit of movement of the plunger brings said recess into register with the channel 19 and at its outer limit of movement carries the recess outside of the outer face of the disk 17, asseen in the upper part of Fig. 2.

In order to impart movement to the several plungers, each is provided at its inner end with a radially inwardly projecting camstud 24, which engages and is actuated by a properly shaped cam-groove 25 formed in the cylindric periphery of the cam-hub.

Each dropper plunger is provided with a gripper 26 taking the form of a rod or plunger mounted to reciprocate endwise in the plunger and having its gripping or engaging end 26 arranged to work into the recess 23 The grippers are springpressed to project into their respective recesses, each gripper being to this end provided with a collar 27 against which acts a coiled spring 28 interposed between the collar and a screw plug 29 inserted in the end of the bore which receives the gripper, as seen clearly in Fig. 3.

Each gripper has imparted to it a movement which retracts it during the time it is traversing the lower part of its revolution so as to admit a kernel between the end of the gripper and the opposed jaw or surface of the recess 23, permits it to close under the tension of its spring before it ascends very far in the revolution of the agitator, and then again retracts it suiliciently to lease the kernel at the time when the plunger is bodily shifted outwardly, i. e. while the plunger is passing through the upper part of its bodily revolution with the ejector. To effect this properly timed movement of the several grippers, each is provided at its exterior end with a Cain-stud 30 which extends radially inward and engages a second cam-track 31 formed upon the cam-hub. The cam-studs 24 and 3() both extend through longitudinal slots formed in the radially inner sides of they respective studs 20, so that each plunger and its contained gripper are held against axial rotation.

The peculiar configuration of the camtracks 25 and 31 whereby the foregoing movements are effected is best showny in Fig. 6, wherein the peripheral surface of the cam-hub is developed into a flat surface. Assuming that the ejector member which carries the dropper plungers is moving from right to left, the cam-plunger designated a would beat the lower side of the ejector and the gripper retracted to its extreme, so as to admit the kernel to the plunger recess. ln the next position, designated b, the plunger remains in the same relative position to the ejector but the gripper has advanced and grasped the kernel, as indicated in dotted lines. ln the third position, designated c, the plunger has been bodilyshifted outward into discharging position, corresponding to the upper side of the cam-hub, and the gripper retracted relatively to the plunger, so thaty the kernel is freed. and dropped. ln the fourth position, designated d, the gripper and plunger have returned to the initial position, or that which these parts occupy relatively to each other as the ejector rotates, so as to bring the plunger beneath the corn contained in the ejector.

It is to be particularly noted that the width of the annular groove or channel 19 is such as to compel all ordinary sized and shaped kernels of corn to lie edgewise therein, and the width of the recesses 23 is similar and for the same purpose. Furthermore it is to be noted that the bottom of the recess 23 in each dropper plunger is trough-shaped, as indicated at 23 (Fig. 4), and is located in such relation to the acting end 26 of the gripper that the latter cannot engage more than a single kernel at a time, and by reason of the converging walls 23 at the bottom An example of the latter type of mechanism is'illustrated in the drawings. Referring to Figs. 1, 7 and S, 32 designates a shaft mounted to extend transversely of the planter and at its ends journaled in suitable cross-frame members 33 mounted upon the ends of the bars 1, 1. On the shaft 32 is keyed a ratchet wheel 34, and upon the cross-frame member 33 is pivoted at 36 a trip-lever 35. The longer end of this lever extends upwardly and terminates in a fork 37 adapted to be engaged by the knots 38 of a check row wire 39. The shorter arm of this lever extends downwardly and is pivotally connected with a link 40 which is arranged to traverse a guide slot 41 formed in the face of the cross-frame member 33 just above the ratchet 34. The opposite end of the link 40 carries a gravity pawl 42 which operates to step the ratchet forward one tooth upon each reciprocation upon the trip-lever. A coiled contractile spring 43 automatically returns the trip-lever to its normal position after each oscillation imparted thereto by each knot or button. On the shaft 32, at a point in register with the gear 15, is keyed a gear 44 which meshes with the gear 15 and thus rotates the ejector step by step.

In the particular instance illustrated, the ejector is shown as provided with ten dropper plungers, while the ratchet wheel 34 is provided with five teeth. It follows, therefore,

that if the gear 44 be of equal pitch diameter with the gear 15, two kernels of corn will be dropped upon each oscillation of the triplever. ln Fig. 9 is shown a pair of gears designated 15/ and 44, respectively, and respectively corresponding to the gears 15 and 44. By substituting this set of gears, gear 15, which is half the diameter of gear 44, will be rotated upon each step a distance far enough to deliver four kernels. Obviously other sets of gears may be provided for effecting the discharge of any desired number of kernels of grain upon each movement of the trip-lever. lt is to be noted that these transmission gears are so constructed as to be readily detached from their respective shafts for the purpose of substitution.

The operation of the mechanism has been substantially set forth in connection with the description of the parts and need not therefore be repeated. lt may be noted, however, that the construction of the interior of the agitator and the relation of the feed passage which delivers into the agitator are such that the agitator will never become entirely iilled with grain, but on the contrary will leave aA substantial part of the upper portion of the ejector unfilled. This will insure a constant tumbling and agitation of the kernels as the agitator rotates, and thus insure the movement of the kernels edgewise into the channel of the ejector and into the recesses of the several dropper plungers. Moreover, the gradkernels of corn and wider than the thickness i of ordinary shaped kernels of corn, automatic gripper mechanism working within said ejector recess, and operative connections for actuating said parts in suitably timed relation and order.

2. In a corn dropping mechanism, a circular ejector mounted to rotate about a nonvertical axis and provided interiorly With a circumferentially extending seed recess, a plurality of automatic gripper mechanism working Within said ejector recess, and operative connections for rotating said ejector and for actuating the gripper mechanisms in suitably timed relation to the rotary movement of the ejector.

3. In a corn' dropping mechanism, a camhub provided with a seed passage leading therethrough, a circular agitator mounted to rotate around said hub and provided interiorly with one or more circumferentially extending channel-like seed recesses, gripper mechanisms mounted upon the ejector and working through said recess or recesses, cam connections between the cam-hub and gripper mechanisms, and means for rotating the agitator. V

4. In a corn dropping mechanism, the combination of a hub, an ejector j ournaled to rotate adjacent to said hub and forming in conjunction With the latter a substantially closed seed chamber, said agitator being provided internally with one or more circumferentially extending seed recesses of channel-like form, a plurality of gripper mechanisms movably mounted in said ejector, each i gripper mechanism comprising a recessed body member and a complementary gripper, means for imparting a bodily movement to each of said body members, means for imparting a relative gripping movement to each gripper, and means for rotating the agitator.

5. ln a corn dropping mechanism, the combination of a housing, a cam-hub fixed Within said housing having a hollowed-out interior and a seed passagecommunicating with said interior, a circular agitator journaled to rotate adjacent to the hollowed end of said hub and provided with a peripheral portion overhanglng the exterior of the hub, said agitator being provided With an internal circumferential seed channel extending radially into its peripheral portion, a plurality of gripper mechanisms mounted in the peripheral portion of said ejector, each comprising a recessed dropper plunger mounted to reciprocate endwise to carry its recess into and out of' register with the seed channel of the ejector, and a gripper mounted within each dropper plunger to reciprocate endwise therein and arranged to enter the recess of the plunger at its acting end, suitable cam connections between the cam-hub and each dropper plunger, other cam connections between the cam-hub and several gripper members, and suitable driving connections for rotating the ejector.

6, In a corn dropping mechanism, the combination of a housing, a cam-hub fixed within said housing having a hollowed-out interior and a seed passage communicating with said interior, a circular agitator journaled to rotate adjacent to the hollowed end of said hub and provided with a peripheral portion overhanging the exterior of the hub, said agitator being provided with an internal circumferential seed channel extending radially into its peripheral portion, a plurality of gripper mechanisms mounted in the peripheral portion of said ejector, each comprising a recessed dropper plunger mounted to reciprocate endwise to carry its recess into,`

and out of register with the seed channel of the ejector, and a gripper mounted within each dropper plunger to reciprocate endwise therein and arranged to enter the recess of the plunger at its acting end, suitable cam connections between the cam-hub and each dropper plunger, other cam connections between the cam-hub and several gripper members, and suitable driving connections for rotating the ejector step by step a redetermined part of a revolution upon eac step.

7. In a corn dropping mechanism, a gripper mechanism comprising a bodily movable member provided with a narrow channel-like recess of suitable size to insure the entrance of kernels of corn edgewise therein, a coperative gripper mounted in said recessed member and having its acting end arranged to move transversely of, and into and out of, said seed recess, a seed chamber within which said gripper mechanism operates, means for imparting bodily movement to said recessed member, and means to impart coperative gripping and releasing movement to the gripper in suitably timed relation.

TOBIAS C. ROSELAND.

Witnesses:

F. E. NORTHUP, A. W. HEALD. 

